Windows 8 SP1: What We Hope To See


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I think they could make a few small changes that would help a lot. I would like to be able to hit escape to close an app.

I don't think that would ever happen. To easy to accidentally hit ESC. Maybe ctrl-ESC or something, but ESC alone, doubtful and rightly so. You could handle it, but many could not, lol.

There will be no SP for Windows 8.

Damnit I read that in the Illusive Mans voice.

XBOX Movies with greater support for tagged files, The recent update lets it pull the release year form the files metadata doing the same for genre while allowing the files to be grouped by metadata properties instead of just a to z would be good and a right click > synopsis metadata viewer would be even better.

Oh and timed text subtitle support

How did you get those to appear? I have my videos on an external harddrive, they're in my Video Library but the metro app can't find them.

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the new features will be added in the next version of Windows... Service Packs are just update rollups now anyways. and i keep reading there won't be an SP1, which kind of sucks even if it is just updates, makes it easier to update that way.

what you would like to see in Windows 8 SP1 is a dream scenario.

They need to allow a boot to desktop and start menu function for users who operate strictly as a local machine login.. with a metro option of course... if you choose a Ms account login then metro is default... without this Win 8 will be a failure

They are going to need to do something.. so far roughly 80% of my customers have a negative reaction to win 8 ... refuse to buy the new systems... or look for one with windows 7 on it...we will see if that improves, but it's doubtful..

Of the 20 % who didn't reject it almost half have had issues after getting home and several have just returned the machines..

There will be no SP for Windows 8.

+1 Microsoft has already said there will be no SP1 ... They will be coming out with Windows 9. Microsoft's goal is to start releasing an operating system upgrade yearly. Like Apple does.

Damnit I read that in the Illusive Mans voice.

How did you get those to appear? I have my videos on an external harddrive, they're in my Video Library but the metro app can't find them

It depends on windows indexing if they are stored on a windows server you can add them to the library on other computers using a network share.

Make sure your drive is added in indexing options & the NTFS permissions for indexing are set ie SYSTEM has full control.

The most obvious solution is treating Metro the way it was meant to be designed: as a supplement to the ?core? Windows 7 operating system rather than a botched attempt at a primary UI.

Couple things. Ignoring the fact that there WON'T be a service pack for Windows 8, this paragraph needs attention. Windows 8 IS Metro. IS. METRO. Windows 8 is not your daddy's Windows. The so-called "core Windows 7 OS" is there as a secondary. Any tech blogger should have known this by now.

Second. What's with the condescending attitude?

Lastly, the OP seems to forget what a service pack really is...

Why Metro doesn?t talk to Windows 8?s Desktop Mode, and why Windows 8?s Desktop Mode doesn?t talk to Metro, we?ll never know.

Actually, we do know. Different API sets. Damn, that was too hard to figure out.

Going off what I was observing in PC World earlier, that man in the video summed up exactly what's going on when real people first try to use Windows 8. PC World / Currys staff received two months training and should be doing more to help.

The see Metro it looks foreign and might not give it a second chance, they see OS X and they see something that is more familiar.

Since I was the OP for the article on here, that makes me the OP. If you have such a problem with the article's author, then go and post your gripe to the article on MaximumPC.

Since I was the OP for the article on here, that makes me the OP. If you have such a problem with the article's author, then go and post your gripe to the article on MaximumPC.

Dude, you're creating a problem where there Isn't one. OP =/ you.

Honestly, what I'd like to see in Windows 8 SP1....is an actual SP1. I don't agree with what Microsoft is planning now. I think Windows 7 post-SP1 is nearing 100 updates, if it hasn't reached that already. Who likes installing that many updates on a clean install? I sure don't. Nothing wrong with service packs.

We all prefer Service Packs. Its easier to make a clean install and faster so we dont wait for the downloads and install of missing updates.

Or just release updated Windows 8 version so anyone can download in their native language and just insert the serial key. Install in PEN Drives or just the .ISO to burn on DVD.

Windows really need a better system on their OS, we can still use a 10 year old SO system. We need better and easier ways to install Windows easier with a nice clean install.

As a Windows 8, desktop user, I must say that the interface is no longer intuative and I does take a lot more mouse movement which isnt great for my RSI.

Im liking 8 but if the Explorer features and other new options had been added to a Win 7 interace then I would be loving it.

I think thats the thing with Win 8, you dont hate it, but you dont love it, and MS could have changed that - its just a bit of a shame.

If you have RSI, you shouldn't be using a mouse at all. Trackpad, Wacom Tablet, and other devices (depending on your injury) are far more ergonomic.

Even a simplistic keyboard setup, because you do realize you can fully control the new Start Screen and Windows Store Apps with the Windows Key, Menu Key, ESC, TAB, Enter, and the 4 Arrow keys. (Unlike the desktop that requires a variety of Alt based shortcuts and conventions.)

In general, Windows 8 added more keyboard shortcuts to the entire OS than any previous version of Windows since 95.

I truly have to disagree that there is 'more work' or 'more movement' require to operate Windows 8. We specifically moved several employees with carpal tunnel to Windows 8 because it was easier for them. Of course we don't force them to use a mouse, we give them trackpads, or trackballs, or pen digitizers depending on their doctor's recommendation.

(This is area we could really go into because we have people with limited use of their hands that use simplistic pointing devices and the onscreen keyboard. For them the new Windows 8 Start Screen and Windows Store Apps are a godsend.)

With Windows 8 for a mouse or pointing device, there basically two concepts to learn, corners, and scroll wheel/region. Once you get there, understanding right click and how the items on the charms bar work and the drag and drop gestures to arrange non-desktop Apps. There is a reason video are posted on Youtube of 2 and 3 year old children using it, and some for the first time.

Windows 8 added a clean distinction between desktop and the new App ecosystem; which is why it is surprising to see articles like this with such a clueless perspective and an ego combined with intimidation that is still creating confusion for the author.

Windows 8 is not complex or hard and it doesn't limit or remove any features people had in Windows 7. If people jump out of the security of their 'box' and allow for a moment that they don't have all the answers, they adapt rather quickly and actually like Windows 8.

Several years from now, articles and posts like this will be fun to go back and read and funny. It is like going back and reading old articles and posts about virtually every previous version of Windows. Articles of doom and people swearing they would never use them.

Sadly many of these same 'tech' writers are the ones still working at ZD/CNet and other publications and write the same stuff they wrote 20 years ago about NT or Win95 and are technically just as clueless as they were then.. I sometimes wonder if they have a Word template for a new Windows release, and just replace the reasons they hate it and change the name and publish it.

You do realizes the guy in the video is acting, right?

Anyway, I like Windows 8 like it is, since it's also a mobile OS, I'm expecting an big update like WP Mango for Windows 8, and it seems that's coming under the codename Windows Blue (a while ago leaked out). Anyway, none of the above features need to be include since that's nonsense. The things about tiles, etc. are things that need to be include in the installer, and so, they are not Microsofts problem.

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    • Passkeys: Think of them like a broken heart necklace. Imagine one of those heart necklaces that breaks into two matching pieces. One person keeps one half, and the other person keeps the other half. With passkeys, the website has one half, and you have the other half. If the website gets hacked and someone steals its half, that stolen piece is useless by itself. It cannot unlock your account without your matching half. This particular heart necklace is one of a kind, there is only one in existence. Your half of the necklace has to be stored somewhere. It might be stored on your phone, tablet, computer, security key, or a password manager that can sync it between all your devices. A security key is a small physical device that you keep with you, kind of like a house key, car key, or flash drive. I would not usually recommend a security key as the first option for the average person. For most people, it is easier to use their phone, computer, or a password manager that can sync passkeys between their devices. A security key is more like a spare key you keep in a safe place, just in case you lose access to your other devices or your password manager. Some security keys plug into your computer. Some plug into your phone or tablet. Some do not plug in at all and instead get tapped against your device. The idea is simple: a security key can hold another passkey for the same website. Think of it like creating a second one-of-a-kind heart necklace for the same account. One necklace could be paired with your password manager, while another necklace could be paired with your security key. That means the website has more than one matching half on file. One half matches the passkey in your password manager. Another half matches the passkey stored on your security key. So, if you lose access to your phone, computer, or password manager, you would still be able to log in using the passkey stored on your security key. Think of it like keeping an extra special necklace piece on a tiny keychain, stored somewhere safe. The website still has the matching half for that security key, but your half is safely stored inside the little key. A passkey does not automatically exist on every device you own. It lives wherever you save it. If your half is stored on one device, then that device is the one that has the matching piece. For example, if you create the passkey on your Windows computer and it is only saved to that computer, your iPhone does not automatically have that same half. If you create it on your iPhone and it only stays on that iPhone, your Android phone does not automatically have it either. That is where password managers come in. A password manager can act like a protected jewelry box for your passkeys. Instead of your half of the necklace being locked to only one device, the password manager can securely sync that half to your other approved devices. For example, Apple Passwords and iCloud Keychain can sync passkeys between your Apple devices. Google Password Manager can sync passkeys with your Google account. But password managers such as 1Password and Bitwarden can sync passkeys between everything, your phones, tablets and computers. Now, you might ask: “What happens if I lose access to the device that has my passkey?” That depends on where your passkey was saved and what recovery options the website gives you. If your passkey was synced through a password manager, you may be able to sign in from another device that has access to that same password manager. For example, if your passkey is saved in iCloud Keychain, Google Password Manager, 1Password, or Bitwarden, another approved device may still have access to it. If your passkey was saved only on one phone, computer, or security key, and you lose that device, then you may not have your half of the necklace anymore. In that case, you would usually need to use the website’s backup login or account recovery options. A lot of websites that support passkeys still let you fall back to your regular password. So if you lose access to your passkey, the site may still let you log in with your password, a code sent to your email, a text message, a recovery code, or some other account recovery process. That is convenient, but it is also important to understand: if the website still allows password login, then your password still matters. Passkeys are safer than passwords, but if your account still has a password as a backup, you should still use a strong, unique password and turn on two-factor authentication if the website offers it. This is why it is a good idea to have more than one safe way back into important accounts. For example, you might keep your passkey in a syncing password manager, add a second trusted device, save recovery codes somewhere safe, or set up a backup security key. A passkey is very secure, but just like a real key, you need a backup plan in case you lose access to it. Now, you might ask: “What stops a hacker from copying my half of the necklace?” That’s the important part: your half is protected. It is not something you type in, and it is not something the website gets to keep. Think of your half as being locked inside a tiny safe on your phone, computer, security key, or password manager. That safe only opens when you approve it with your fingerprint, face, PIN, or device password. When you log in, the website does not need to see your half. It only needs proof that your half matches its half. Your actual half is not handed over to the website. This is different from a password. With a password, you type the secret into the website. If you type it into a fake website, the hacker now has it. With a passkey, you are not typing your secret into the website. Your device is proving you have the matching half without giving the half away. That also helps protect you from fake websites. If someone makes a fake login page that looks like the real site, your device can tell it is not the real match. It will not use your passkey there. Now, could someone use your passkey if they stole your device, got into your password manager, or somehow unlocked the safe that holds your half? Yes, that is why your device password, PIN, fingerprint, face unlock, and password manager security still matter. But a hacker cannot just steal your passkey from the website or trick you into typing it into a fake page like they can with a password. That is why passkeys are safer than passwords. The two matching pieces have to come together, like two lovebirds who were once separated and are finally reunited.
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Thanks to that massive vertically stacked L3 cache, the X3D desktop processors, including the 9800X3D, also come with the benefit of not needing fast memory. Even DDR5-5600 should be plenty for it. The technical specifications of the Ryzen 7 9800X3D are given in the table below: Specification Value Architecture Zen 5 Cores / Threads 8 / 16 Base Clock 4.7 GHz Max Boost Clock Up to 5.2 GHz L1 Cache 640 KB L2 Cache 8 MB L3 Cache 96 MB Total Cache 104 MB CPU Core Process TSMC 4nm FinFET I/O Die Process TSMC 6nm FinFET Socket AM5 Default TDP 120W Max Temperature (Tjmax) 95°C Thermal Solution Not included Memory Type DDR5 Max Capacity 256 GB Memory Speeds 2x1R: DDR5-5600 2x2R: DDR5-5600 4x1R: DDR5-3600 4x2R: DDR5-3600 PCIe Version PCIe 5.0 PCIe Lanes (Total/Usable) 28 / 24 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) 4 USB 2.0 1 Graphics Cores 2 CU RDNA 2 Frequency 2200 MHz DisplayPort over USB-C Yes Overclocking Unlocked Up next we have the tech specs for the MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI Motherboard: Specification Value Chipset AMD X870 CPU Support AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 Series Desktop Processors Socket AM5 Memory Slots 4 × DDR5 UDIMM Maximum Memory Capacity 256GB Memory Support DDR5 8400–5600 MT/s (OC), DDR5 5600–4800 MT/s (JEDEC) Integrated Graphics Outputs 1 × HDMI 2.1 FRL (up to 8K 60Hz) 2 × USB4 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 (up to 4K 60Hz) Expansion Slots PCI_E1: PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU) PCI_E2: PCIe 3.0 x1 (Chipset) PCI_E3: PCIe 4.0 x4 (Chipset) Audio Realtek ALC4080 Codec 7.1-Channel USB High Performance Audio Supports up to 32-bit/384kHz playback on front panel S/PDIF output M.2 Slots 4 × M.2 M2_1: PCIe 5.0 x4 (CPU, 22110/2280) M2_2: PCIe 5.0 x4 (CPU, 2280/2260) M2_3: PCIe 4.0 x2 (Chipset, 2280/2260) M2_4: PCIe 4.0 x4 (Chipset, 2280/2260) SATA Ports 4 × SATA 6Gb/s RAID Support RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 for M.2 NVMe storage devices Rear USB Ports 4 × USB 2.0 3 × USB 5Gbps Type-A 2 × USB 10Gbps Type-A 1 × USB 10Gbps Type-C 2 × USB4 40Gbps Type-C Front USB Headers 4 × USB 2.0 4 × USB 5Gbps Type-A 1 × USB 20Gbps Type-C LAN Realtek 8126-CG 5G LAN Wireless Wi-Fi 7 (M.2 Key-E module pre-installed) Supports 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz bands Up to 5.8Gbps Supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.4, MLO, 4KQAM Internal Power Connectors 1 × 24-pin ATX Power 2 × CPU Power Connectors 1 × PCIe 8-pin Power Connector Fan Headers 1 × CPU Fan 1 × Combo Fan (Pump/System) 6 × System Fan RGB Headers 3 × Addressable V2 RGB (JARGB_V2) 1 × RGB LED (JRGB) Other Internal Headers 1 × EZ Conn-header 2 × Front Panel Headers 1 × Chassis Intrusion 1 × Front Audio 1 × TPM 2.0 Header Debug Features 4 × EZ Debug LEDs 1 × EZ Digit Debug LED Rear I/O Ports Clear CMOS Button Flash BIOS Button HDMI 2 × USB 40Gbps Type-C 1 × USB 10Gbps Type-C 4 × USB 10Gbps Type-A 3 × USB 5Gbps Type-A 4 × USB 2.0 5G LAN Port Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Antenna Connectors Audio Connectors Form Factor ATX The Samsung 990 PRO is a PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD and still one of the fastest drives available today for under $500. 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Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • I heard from a lot of people that driver support for the latest games when RDNA first came out (Radeon 5000 series) was pretty bad, but if you didn't buy the card on day one, or were not trying to play the latest titles, then you were isolated from that issue. Other than that, it's been good and only getting better.
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    • is that a personal preference? whether it is or isn't, i get where you're coming from. i try to get and use fully open sourced applications whenever i can but there are instances where i find a superior product that is closed sourced. in these cases i do my best to learn about the company, who operates it, their background, parent and sub structure etc. to some extent, depending on "the smell test". i really believe that Syncback is really and truly something great. even if you don't use it, it's always worth a recommendation to someone else, especially if that someone else is not very computer literate. for someone of your calibre you, you'll manage just fine with Syncthing, no doubt about it.
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